Acromegaly is mostly diagnosed in middle-aged adults. It isn't just adults though, it can happen to anyone of any age. In fact if it is diagnosed as a child it is diagnosed as giantism instead of acromegaly. This serious illness can result in serious illnesses and premature death. It is treatable in most patients that have it, but because of its slow onset, if it isn't diagnosed early enough or even correctly death can occur. Types of health consequences would be the following; type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.
Symptoms of Acromegaly:
joint aches
thick, coarse, oily skin
skin tags
enlarged lips, nose, and tongue
deepening of the voice due to enlarged sinuses and vocal cords
Acromegaly Disease is a syndrome that affects the pituitary gland. It causes this gland to create an excess amount of growth hormone. With the pituitary gland creating such a great amount of growth hormone can create a tumor called pituitary adenoma. In most cases it is not noticed until middle age where the effects start to be seen. This disease may seem like its only result is major increase in growth, but deformationsof bone growth and premature death if not noticed early enough.
In a child the disease is diagnosed as giantism. A childs height is measured by the length of the long bones in the legs. In response to the growth hormone, the bones grow in length at the growth plates. The growth plates fuse after puberty, so the excessive growth hormone creation in adults does not result in increase height. Prolonged exposure to the growth hormone before the growth plates have fused together cause increased growth of the long bones, thus increasing the height
Table of Contents
By: Ian and Mark
Basic Info:
Acromegaly is mostly diagnosed in middle-aged adults. It isn't just adults though, it can happen to anyone of any age. In fact if it is diagnosed as a child it is diagnosed as giantism instead of acromegaly. This serious illness can result in serious illnesses and premature death. It is treatable in most patients that have it, but because of its slow onset, if it isn't diagnosed early enough or even correctly death can occur. Types of health consequences would be the following; type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.
Symptoms of Acromegaly:
Acromegaly on a Molecular Level:
Acromegaly Disease is a syndrome that affects the pituitary gland. It causes this gland to create an excess amount of growth hormone. With the pituitary gland creating such a great amount of growth hormone can create a tumor called pituitary adenoma. In most cases it is not noticed until middle age where the effects start to be seen. This disease may seem like its only result is major increase in growth, but deformationsof bone growth and premature death if not noticed early enough.In a child the disease is diagnosed as giantism. A childs height is measured by the length of the long bones in the legs. In response to the growth hormone, the bones grow in length at the growth plates. The growth plates fuse after puberty, so the excessive growth hormone creation in adults does not result in increase height. Prolonged exposure to the growth hormone before the growth plates have fused together cause increased growth of the long bones, thus increasing the height
Works Cited
"Acromegaly". Wikipedia. 3-09-10 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acromegaly>.
"Acromegaly". Edocrine and Metabolic Diseases Home. 3-09-10 <http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/acro/acro.htm>.
"Piture of Acromegaly". 3-10-10 <http://www.acromegaly.org.uk/acromegaly.jpg>.
"Picture of Acromegaly". 3-10-10 <http://www.pathguy.com/sol/49421.jpg>.